Indian No More – Book Recommendation

Posted on November 26, 2019 by Joanna

Title: Indian No More

Authors: Charlene Willing McMannis and Traci Sorrell

 Publisher: Tu Books, 2019

Ages: 8-11

Genre: Middle Grade Historical Fiction

Themes: Native American Indians, Native American Month, #ownvoices, termination era, racism, Federal Indian Relocation Program

Opening:

Before being terminated. I was Indian.

Synopsis:

Regina Petit’s family has always been Umpqua, and living on the Grand Ronde reservation is all ten-year-old Regina has ever known. Her biggest worry is that Sasquatch may actually exist out in the forest. But when the federal government signs a bill into law that says Regina’s tribe no longer exists, Regina becomes “Indian no more” overnight–even though she was given a number by the Bureau of Indian Affairs that counted her as Indian, even though she lives with her tribe and practices tribal customs, and even though her ancestors were Indian for countless generations.

With no good jobs available in Oregon, Regina’s father signs the family up for the Indian Relocation program and moves them to Los Angeles. Regina finds a whole new world in her neighborhood on 58th Place. She’s never met kids of other races, and they’ve never met a real Indian. For the first time in her life, Regina comes face to face with the viciousness of racism, personally and toward her new friends.

Meanwhile, her father believes that if he works hard, their family will be treated just like white Americans. But it’s not that easy. It’s 1957 during the Civil Rights Era. The family struggles without their tribal community and land. At least Regina has her grandmother, Chich, and her stories. At least they are all together. (Publisher)

Why I like this book:

With a great opening line (see above), McManis introduces us to the first person POV of Regina and her PNW Umqua family and tribal roots. McManis includes lots of details of daily and family life and compares Regina’s Rez school with the public elementary school she now attends in L.A. Chich, (Regian’s grandma) often adds a deeper cultural perspective as do the inclusion of some Chinuk Wawa words in conversations (translated where necessary for clarity).

The racist incidents Regina and her family face in this novel are sadly too similar to the injustices Native Americans still face today. When Regina and her family relocate from Oregon to L.A., they leave everything familiar behind them to find themselves in a multicultural city and neighborhood surrounded by the dominant WASP culture. The new law means Regina is “Indian no more” and the family must become “Americans”… a strange concept to kids who are just beginning to understand their own identity. She discovers she isn’t Indian enough for her friends, but too ethnic for many others. It’s a slow journey toward the truth that different is not wrong.

This is a touching historical middle-grade novel drawn from author Charlene Willing McManis’s own tribal history, and co-written by a second Native Nations author. “Own voices” stories are important, and I hope we will continue to see more from the Native American community. I am sorry that Charlene Willing McManis passed away last year before the final revisions for the novel. The young protagonist Regina faces identity and family questions that will resonate with most middle grade students, and perhaps especially those from minorities and immigrants. This specific Native American history is also so important and deserves its place in every elementary school in the nation. As a Brit, I knew nothing about this Relocation law and its attempts to eradicate indigenous identity, and there are great explanations of it in the beginning and in the back matter. 

This is a great addition to school shelves especially as part of celebrating Native American month.

Activities/resources:

The book includes a map of the family’s trip from Oregon to Los Angeles. In the back is a Glossary, Author’s Note with photos, Co-Author’s Note (Unfortunately, McManis passed away while this book was being published; Traci Sorrell, enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation, completed it.), Editor’s Note, and text for the folk tale “The Beaver and the Coyote”. The cover art is by Marlena Myles (Spirit Lake Dakota, Mohegan, Muscogee Creek). 

You could pair this with My Name is Not Easy by Debby Dahl Edwardson.

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The People Shall Continue – Perfect Picture Book Friday

Posted on November 22, 2019 by Joanna

Title: The People Shall Continue

Author: Simon J. Ortiz

Illustrator: Sharol Graves

 Publisher: Lee & Low Books, 2017 40th Anniversary Addition

Ages: 6-10

Genre: Narrative nonfiction

Themes: Native American History, Native American month, oppression, civil rights, conservation, respect

Opening:

Many, many years ago, all things came to be.

The stars, rocks, plants, trees, animals. Mountains, sun, moon, birds, all things. And the People were born. Some say, “From the ocean.” Some say, “From a hollow log.” Some say, “From an opening in the ground.” Some say, “From the mountains.” And the People came to live in the Northwest Mountains and on the Plains, in the Western Hills, and on the Seacoasts, in the southern Deserts and in the Canyons, in the Eastern Woodlands and on the Piedmonts.

Synopsis:

Told in the rhythms of traditional oral narrative, this powerful telling of the history of the Native/Indigenous peoples of North America recounts their story from Creation to the invasion and usurpation of Native lands. As more and more people arrived, The People saw that the new men did not respect the land. The People witnessed the destruction of their Nations and the enslavement of their people. The People fought hard, but eventually agreed to stop fighting and signed treaties.

Many things changed and became more difficult, but The People continued to farm and create crafts. They remembered and told their children, “You are Shawnee. You are Lakota. You are Pima. You Acoma. . . . You are all these Nations of the People.” The People held onto their beliefs and customs and found solidarity with other oppressed people. And despite struggles against greed, destruction of their lands, and oppression, The People persisted.

Why I like this book:

Ortiz uses the rhythms and melodies of traditional oral storytelling to share the history of Indigenous peoples of North America. He begins with Creation and takes us through to the present day. Before the Europeans came, each tribe had its own creation story, each tribe had its own set of skills, and each tribe acknowledged the earth as the source of life. The leaders, healers and hunters all had special roles serving and caring for the People. The text is a long narrative typical of a book published in the 7o’s but well worth a read-aloud to an older class. Although the book was originally published 40 years ago, the events described here and the urgent need to care for the earth and its natural resources is undeniable. “We are all the People of this land. We were created out of the forces of earth and sky, the stars and water. We must make sure that the balance of the Earth be kept. There is no other way. We must struggle for our lives. We must take great care with each other. We must share our concern with each other. Nothing is separate from us.”

One unexpected strength for me in this text is that Ortiz ties the People’s story to the story of all the American poor; Black, Latino, Asian or White. Many are being kept poor by American wealth and power. I think this would make a good classroom read to debunk the false traditional Thanksgiving story where the white settlers and Indians are portrayed as friends. It would open up a great dialogue about both groups of people and allow the students to form their own opinions on the history. This 40th Anniversary edition includes an added note from the author, he gives us a summary of the history of the People (Native Americans). This book is the picture book to introduce young students to the struggles of the People faced with colonists, settlers, pioneers who did not keep their promises or treaties.

Activities/resources:

For “Thanksgiving” combine reading this book with reading Squanto’s Journey, which I will review next week.

Each week a group of bloggers reviews picture books we feel would make great educational reads. To help teachers, caregivers and parents, we have included resources and/or activities with each of our reviews. A complete list of the thousands of books we have reviewed can be found sorted alphabetically and by topics, here on Susanna Leonard Hill’s website.

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A Piglet called Truffle/A Duckling called Button – Chapter Book Series Recommendation

Posted on November 19, 2019 by Joanna

Title: A Pig Called Truffle

Author: Helen Peters

Illustrator: Ellie Snowdon

 Publisher: Walker Books US, 2020 (Originally published in 2018 in UK by Nosy Crow)

Ages: 6-9

Genre: fiction

Themes: animal rescues, farms, animals, pigs, sniffer-pigs, rescuing

Opening:

Jasmine was lying on her bed with her cats, reading her favorite magazine, Practical Pigs. It was a Friday afternoon in late November, and Jasmine, absorbed in an interesting article about rare breeds, was completely happy.

Synopsis:

Meet Jasmine Green — an aspiring veterinarian who adores animals! Can her kindness and know-how save a piglet in trouble in this delightful series debut?

Jasmine Green loves animals. Her mother is a veterinarian. Her father is a farmer. And her brother and sister are . . . well, they’re mostly annoying. But being in the Green family means seeing and taking care of animals all the time. While helping her mom on a house call, Jasmine visits a new litter of piglets and discovers a forgotten runt hidden underneath its brothers and sisters. Poor little piglet. It is so tiny that it can’t even drink! Its owner refuses to rescue it. So it is up to Jasmine to save the pig . . . secretly. What will happen if anyone finds out? Author Helen Peters and illustrator Ellie Snowdon introduce the irresistible pair of clever, caring Jasmine and lovable Truffle, while capturing the beauty and bustle of a family farm. A kind of James Herriot for a new generation, this first book in the Jasmine Green series is for anyone who loves helping animals.

Title: A Duckling Called Button, (Jasmine Green Rescues #2)

Authors: Helen Peters

Illustrator: Ellie Snowdon

 Publisher: Walker Books US, 2020, (Originally published in 2018 in UK by Nosy Crow)

Ages: 6-9

Genre: fiction

Themes: rescue animals, ducks, farms, farm animals, animal care

Opening:

Good girl, Truffle,” said Jasmine, bending down to scratch her pig behind the ears. “Good girl.”

Jasmine and her best friend, Tom, were walking Truffle around the edge of the biggest field on Oak Tree Farm, checking Jasmine’s dad’s flock of Southdown sheep. It was a lovely warm March morning. The sky was a beautiful pale blue, with high fluffy clouds.

Synopsis:

In the second tale in a heartwarming new chapter-book series, aspiring veterinarian Jasmine Green hatches a plan to save a clutch of duck eggs.

Jasmine Green’s mom is a veterinarian and her dad is a farmer. She has spent her life surrounded by animals. So when she sees animals that need rescuing, she knows just what to do. While walking in the woods, Jasmine and her best friend, Tom, find a nest of orphaned duck eggs. The eggs need lots of care. Hatching them is hard work. Can Jasmine keep the eggs warm and safe? With a little love and luck, the Green family farm will have a fluffy duckling friend for life. Author Helen Peters and illustrator Ellie Snowdon return for a charming springtime visit to Oak Tree Farm. Reminiscent of James Herriot and Dick King-Smith’s classic stories, yet thoroughly modern, this second book in the Jasmine Green series is perfect for animal-loving readers.

Why I like this series:

I would have adored this series in primary school. I was constantly bringing kittens home and had various guinea pigs, hamsters and rabbits growing up. Just like Jasmine, I dreamed of becoming a vet or running an animal rescue like the one in our next door village just outside Cambridge. I of course grew up reading all Dick King Smith (remember Babe?) animal books and as a teen, James Herriot. I confess to a particularly warm fuzzy feeling when mentions like Twiglets, mince pies, porridge and Agas (we had this solid fuel stove growing up) made me realize the author was English. I appreciated the fact that the US publisher did not change e.g. porridge to oatmeal as I always think kids are bright enough to get it.

The realistic farm setting, fabulous animals facts because of Jasmine’s obsessions, and exciting escapades with each of the critters will enthrall young readers who love animals. The cute black and white illustrations by Ellie Snowdon support the text in an unobtrusive way and will help emerging readers transition to their first chapter books. The characters are all fleshed out and endearing, and Peters manages a great page-turning pace. There are sad moments, fun moments, excitement and charm in these pages. As someone who lived years in SE France, I also loved the fact the pig was called Truffle and trained to be a sniffer-pig!

I am so glad we have our 4th and 5th grade on our middle school campus now, as because they are mostly not native English speakers, I actually think the English level and stories will be very appealing to them.

This is a terrific new series and I am just sorry that the two ARCS I received from the publisher mentioned that the final books will include maps. I adore maps in books.

Activities/resources:

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